Jan. 28, 2006
SAN DIEGO - What began as a close and even game through the first two-and-a-half innings exploded over the next six frames as the 2006 San Diego State Aztecs scored in every inning from the third through the eighth en route to a 22-2 win over a group of alumni Saturday afternoon at Tony Gwynn Stadium.
Of the 17 players who appeared for SDSU, 16 had at least one hit while five pitchers limited the alums to seven hits over nine innings.
Despite the final margin of victory, it was actually the alumni that scored the game's first run as they took a 1-0 lead in the annual contest for the first time since the 2003 encounter courtesy of a pair of former pitchers. After Royce Ring drew a two-out walk in the top of the second off SDSU starter Ben Coon, Chris Hartshorn promptly lined a double to right field that brought Ring home with the game's first run.
The lead was short-lived, however, as the Aztecs put six runs on the board in the bottom of the third. The keys hits included a two-RBI double by shortstop Lance Zawadzki and a two-run home run off the bat of third baseman Tim O'Brien.
The alums cut the lead to 6-2 with a single marker in the top of the fourth as a double down the left field line by right fielder Jake McLintock scored Ben Rosenthal, who had singled to lead off the inning, from first base.
From there it was all Aztecs as they scored in each of the next six innings while holding the alums to no further runs.
In addition to O'Brien, shortstop Sam Pepper belted a three-run home run, one of his three hits on the afternoon. Right fielder Curt Mendoza also had a three-hit day including a pair of doubles and three runs batted in.
San Diego State will open its 2006 season with a four-game series at the University of Hawai'i beginning Wednesday, Feb. 1, at 6:35 p.m. (HST). That game can be heard live on the internet or in San Diego on CASH 1700-AM at 8:35 p.m. (PST).
San Diego State 22, Alumni 2Alumni 010 100 000 - 2 7 4SDSU 006 471 40x - 22 23 1W - Ben CoonL - Joey PaceHR - SDSU: O'Brien (3rd-one on) Pepper (5th-two on)Time: 3:02